21 June 2004 13:39
Russian political figures divided over potential party merger
Boris Nadezhdin, the secretary of the presidium of the Union of Right Forces party (SPS), has said that SPS and the
right wing of (pro-Kremlin party) One Russia may merge to form a block to contest the Duma elections in 2007, Ekho
Moskvy radio reported on 21 June. The suggestion has provoked differing reactions from Russian political figures.
One Russia Duma deputy Vladimir Katrenko told Ekho Moskvy that his party was ready for any mergers that benefit the
country. "So far I haven't heard any of my colleagues express a desire to form a bloc with any of our fellow
travellers or, moreover, with parties or socio-political movements that are not very friendly towards us. Although, in
my opinion, any constructive union will be welcomed if it benefits the state, the country and the people," he
said.
The head of the State Duma Legislation Committee, Pavel Krasheninnikov, an ex-SPS deputy, was sceptical about the
potential merger. "As for the merger of the two parties, well, Lord knows, it's a fantastic idea. What is the
aim of all this? We are currently carrying out fairly right-wing - liberal if you like - reforms," he said. "I
think that this is a PR fuss and nothing will come of it," he added.
Leonid Gozman, the secretary of the SPS Political Council, doesn't think that there are yet any grounds for a
merger of SPS with One Russia. "You can only talk about a merger with somebody when partners exist, but On
Russia's right wing is something of a virtual creation that does not actually exist at the moment as a player in
the political process," he said.
Irina Khakamada, the leader of the Free Russia movement and a former SPS leader, said that there are grounds for a
merger between business-oriented elements in the two parties.
"SPS is a party that, above all in the regions, is focused on business and naturally this means that its
ideology is, on one hand, conformist, as it is not profitable for business to be in fierce opposition to the
authorities. On the other hand, it is market oriented. This means that the majority of the party is happy with the
market-oriented wing of the party of power [One Russia], which could lead an independent life but basically prepares
programmes for [President Vladimir] Putin and his cabinet," she said. "Other than the right wing of One
Russia, I don't think there are any democrats who are loyal to the authorities," she added.
Khakamada also said that a minority in SPS' regional bodies were in favour of entering the democratic coalition
represented by the 2008: Free Choice committee.
Yabloko deputy leader Sergey Ivanenko called the idea logical. "The position that this party [SPS] held at the
parliamentary and, in particular, presidential elections showed that a significant part, perhaps even a majority, of SPS
members support President Putin and his policies," he said.
Vyacheslav Nikonov, head of the Politika Foundation, called the idea ill thought through and said it would not come
to anything. "Nadezhdin's initiative is extremely strange. I don't think that it will have any serious
followers on the liberal flank and I don't think that it will seriously interest One Russia," he said.
"It is difficult to talk about the existence of a serious liberal flank in One Russia: it is not a liberally
oriented party," Nikonov said.
[Ekho Moskvy radio] |
RUSSIA IN FACTS
